Delaware's Best State Parks
Cape
Henlopen State Park has always been a key attraction in Delaware. The largest
state park showcases one of the east coast's most beautiful ocean beaches
stretching 4.5 miles along the coastline. The "Cape" has long been a
valuable natural resource for the maritime community with it's still-standing
light house, WW II military bunkers and look-out towers, strategic location for
shipping at the mouth of the Delaware Bay. Cape Henlopen State Park also offers
a huge choice of environmental education programs from the Seaside Nature
Center. Visitors may go for a guided full-moon beach hike, canoe trip, practice
the ancient skill of seining (net fishing) or participate in our annual bird
count at the hawk watch area. Hiking trails through pinelands and sand dunes
offer plenty to do as well as the bike trail and campground.
Park is 2 hours drive from Wilmington, DE, 2.5 from Philadelphia and 3 from
Washington, DC.
Fort
Delaware State Park is one of the most unique destinations on the East Coast. It
is a newly renovated civil war fort, on an island!! Plus, it offers visitors an
opportunity to step back in time to 1863 with our award-winning living history
program. Talk with actors
portraying prisoners, soldiers, citizens living on the island about the politics
of the day. Witness artillery and cannon demonstrations, see a real blacksmith
or learn hearth-cooking techniques. Fort Delaware served as a prison camp during
the war between the states -- housing all the prisoners from the famous Battle
of Gettysburg. The Fort sits on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware
River, between Delaware and New
Jersey. The island also houses a bird sanctuary which is the second largest
heron rookery on the east coast, and also shelters hundreds of other wading
birds like ibis and egrets. Just 20 minutes from Wilmington, DE, or 1 hour from
Philadelphia.
Trap
Pond State Park is one of the most beautiful places in all of Delaware. It is
home to the northern most stand of bald cypress trees in North America. The park
itself was one of Delaware's first state parks in 1951, but the land was
initially purchased by the federal government in the 1930's and was turned into
a recreational area by the Civilian Conservation Corps, so it has a really
rustic, "parky" feel to it. The
cypress swamp itself conjures up a feeling of mystery when visitors canoe
through the waters surrounded by cypress knees, great blue heron, blooming
wildflowers, and just plain serenity. Camping is very popular in our campground
or new "yurts" which are rustic, circular tent-cabins. Year-round
nature programs, hikes, canoe trips and family events are offered through the
Bald Cypress Nature Center.
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